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6.BIOCHEMISTRY

Julian Melchiorri: Silk leaf

Following Melchiorri’s interest into natural phenomena and the recent scientific discoveries in Biology and Material science enabled him to explore the potential for creating photosynthetic materials aiming to bring the efficiency of nature into the man-made environment. Silk Leaf is the first outcome of this exploration path. It is a modular device that photosynthesize made of a biological material mostly composed by Silk protein and chloroplasts. Silk Leaf absorbs CO2 and produces oxygen and organic compounds thanks to the photosynthetic ability of the stabilized chloroplasts inside silk protein. Any visible light and water is needed to enable the reaction. Web site:http://www.julianmelchiorri.com/

+ (more) The study of molecules in living things. Biochemistry is the science in which chemistry is applied to the study of living organisms and the atoms and molecules which comprise living organisms. This includes organic molecules and their chemical reactions. Most people consider biochemistry to be synonymous with molecular biology. What Types of Molecules Do Biochemists Study?The principal types of biological molecules, or biomolecules are: *carbohydrates, *lipids, *proteins, *nucleic acids. Many of these molecules are complex molecules called polymers, which are made up of monomer subunits. Biochemical molecules are based on carbon. Biochemistry is used to learn about the biological processes which take place in cells and organisms. Biochemistry may be used to study the properties of biological molecules, for a variety of purposes. For example, a biochemist may study the characteristics of the keratin in hair so that a shampoo may be developed that enhances curliness or softness. Biochemists find uses for biomolecules. For example, a biochemist may use a certain lipid as a food additive. Alternatively, a biochemist might find a substitute for a usual biomolecule. For example, biochemists help to develop artificial sweeteners. Biochemists can help cells to produce new products. Gene therapy is within the realm of biochemistry. The development of biological machinery falls within the realm of biochemistry. Link:http://chemistry.about.com/od/biochemistry/a/introduction-to-biochemistry.htm